Evolution

According to Darwin, the driving force behind evolution is
1. natural selection
2. gene mutation
3. large animals eating smaller animals
4. inheritance of acquired traits
In the phrase "Survival of the Fittest" the term "Fittest" refers to the organism's
1. physical strength and speed
2. suitability for its environment
3. number of genes
4. brain size
Natural selection acts upon
1. only dominant alleles
2. only recessive alleles
3. alleles that are expressed
4. only alleles that are the result of recent mutations
From an evolutionary standpoint, the two male elk depicted above are engaged in
1. natural selection
2. sexual selection
3. speciation
4. adaptation
The birds shown above all have very different beak structure. These differences are known in evolutionary biology as
1. variations
2. adaptations
3. sexual selection
4. acquired traits
A gene mutation in a certain flower allows the flower to produce more seeds. The seeds each have the same chance of producing a new plant as do seeds from flowers that do not possess this mutation. It can be expected that
1. the other plants in the area will develop the same mutation.
2. the mutated gene will become more common in the next generation of these flowers.
3. the mutation will kill the flowers that don't have the mutation.
4. the seeds with the mutation will taste better to animals.
Delicious fruit is an adaptation in some flowering plants that assists in
1. attracting pollinators
2. seed dispersal
3. attracting mates
4. repelling harmful pests
Individual organisms within an existing population cannot
1. undergo sexual selection
2. evolve
3. adapt
4. experience natural selection
For centuries, dog breeders have chosen to breed particular dogs to pass on, or even enhance, desirable traits. This is an example of
1. sexual selection
2. artificial selection
3. speciation
4. natural selection
The theory of evolution predicts that
1. animals will become extinct if the environment changes.
2. alleles that improve survival will increase in frequency within a population.
3. the organisms that produce the most offspring will be the ones to survive.
4. changes in species will take place at a predictable pace.
The image above shows different body shapes within a population of giraffes (play along, OK?) The difference in body shape are an example of
1. adaptation
2. variation
3. sexual selection
4. natural selection
The differences in antibiotic resistance among these bacteria is an example of
1. variation
2. sexual selection
3. adaptability
4. a lethal mutation
It is estimated that most people carry about 50 potentially lethal alleles. This is possible because
1. we have drugs to keep them from killing us.
2. the alleles are recessive, and not expressed.
3. the alleles are dominant, and can overcome recessive alleles.
4. the alleles are for genes that aren't important.
A population of people are isolated on an island, with no new immigrants over many generations. For this group, any new genetic variations are most likely to come from
1. natural selection
2. new mutations
3. recessive alleles
4. speciation
An individual has his appendix removed, dyes his hair black, and intentionally gorges on food until he is morbidly obese. Which of these traits is likely to be passed on to any offspring?
1. the missing appendix
2. black hair color
3. obesity
4. none of these
A particular breed of hare has a coat that turns white in the winter to blend with the snow in its environment. One winter, no snow falls and the white coats make the hares easy for predators to see against the brown dirt. The most immediate expected result of this environmental change is that
1. many of the hares will be eaten
2. the hares' coats will turn to brown color
3. the hares will migrate to a snowy region
4. the next generation of hares will have brown winter coats